Text Information

about Wild Game Animals in New Zealand .

I have included Red Deer , Elk , Chamois , Tahr ,Wild Boar ,and Sika .

RED DEER


��� �Red Deer were introduced to New Zealand in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
They thrived and gave the people an opportunity to stalk, study and photograph them in their natural environment.

In the early 70�s many were captured from their feral range and farmed. By1990 the industry was thriving. Through selective breeding and imported stock some magnificent animals are developing which have antlers 45� plus with
large body size. Native to Europe, Red Deer were first introduced into New Zealand in 1851,
There were many releases and very soon Deer were wide spread throughout both North and South Islands. Of the 8 species of Deer in New Zealand, the Red Deer is the most common. The Red Stag is the most favored quarry of the hundreds of overseas Hunters who regularly visit our shores. The Stag can be hunted from late February through to the end of August. March and April are the most exciting months as this is when the 'rut' is on. The 'roar' of a Stag at this time is enough to excite even the most experienced Hunter. In year 2002 it takes local knowledge or a good guide to get a Feral wild Red Deer, as they have been hunted so much by New Zealand Hunters and poisoned by with 1080 by D.O.C (Department of Conservation New zealand who call them pests!)


Red Deer , Elk , Chamois, Tahr , Wild Boar ,and Sika .

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ELK


( Cervus canadensis Nelsoni and Woodland Elk)
The 'Bugle' of an Elk is claimed to be as irresistible as the legendary songs of the Sirens. one of the strangest sounds of the wilds , sometimes eerie and sometimes almost musical , it is always magnetic. When a person catches a glimpse of the massive antlers of this huge beast, it is a sight which is never forgotten.
The elk is the largest of the cylindrical-antlered deer, which have a spread up to 60+ inches.
They differ slightly from the general form of the Red Deer , the tops do not crown as do the surroyals of the Reds , but occur one behind the other. The tray point is always longer than the brow point.The antlers tend to be lighter in color (the exception being the Wapiti of Fiordland which have dark antlers), smoother and of course, more massive. Standing just over five feet at the shoulders, a mature Bull may weigh from 600 to 900 lb.For short distances on flatland they can run at 45 mph. Organized by Captain Donne, New Zealand, St.George Littledale, England and Theodore Roosevelt,U.S.A.( then President), Elk were imported to New Zealand from U.S.A. by the Tourist Department in 1905 and released at George Sound , Fiordland . They thrived and by 1921 they had spread south to Lake Marchant at the head of Caswell Sound and east into the Lake Hankinson-Lake Thompson Country.
The boundary at present are west of Lake Te Anau and to the north the Milford sound Cleddau Valley
,and South Charles Sound.
In year 2002 it takes local knowledge or a good guide to get a Feral wild ELK or WAPITI, as they have been hunted so much by New Zealand Foot Hunters, Meat hunters, Helicopter gunships, Helicopter capture operations. The population of Feral Wapiti in New Zealand is now very low.

Red Deer , Elk , Chamois, Tahr ,Wild Boar ,and Sika .
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�CHAMOIS


��� Chamois were brought into New Zealand in 15thMarch,1907 , after Captain Donne met the Commander of the Austrian Warship 'Panther' while in Wellington,
He spoke to the Emperor of Austria 'Franz-Joseph' who rounded some up and sent them over.
They were released in the Mt Cook Area and are now spread through most of the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
Standing about 2 ft 6 inches at the shoulders ,with a length Of four or five feet, a fully grown buck may weigh up to 80lb
.They are equipped with broad hard rimmed hooves with a rubbery heel . Horns grow 9 to11 inches , with the bucks having thicker horns . In the Summer the coat is yellow-fawn and in the winter blackish with silver tips on the hair along the backbone . Native of central and southern Europe, the Chamois is one
of the most graceful game animals to be found in New Zealand. They are now to be found throughout the mountain ranges of the South Island. Of the Antelope family the Chamois has exceptional eyesight and ability to
run effortlessly in the roughest terrain. Both the Buck and the Doe have horns but the Doe's horns are normally thinner. The Chamois like the Tahr can be hunted year round but the most popular time is from April through
to August when they are jet black in color. During the mating season (April-May) the buck becomes quite aggressive and intolerant of younger males and drives them off emitting a whistle sound as a warning.
In year 2002 it takes local knowledge or a good guide to get a Feral wild Chamois, as they have been hunted so much by New Zealand foot Hunters, Helicopter capture operators and helicopter gunships.

Red Deer , Elk , Chamois, Tahr , Wild Boar ,and Sika .
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TAHR


The Duke of Bedford ,Woburn , England presented the New Zealand Government with six Tahr in 1904. These were liberated in the Mt Cook Area of New Zealand. Tahr inhabit high rough country up to 8500 feet in New Zealand . Reaching a height of 40 inches at the shoulders the
Bulls may weigh over 200lb . Bulls have long hair up to 12 inches around their shoulder and neck section which they can make stand upright to give the visual effect of doubling their size . The Mane is a light cream color
with the back section blackish 4inch to 6 inch hair .Bulls can grow horns up to 14 inches Plus . The Females Coats are Greyish color in the winter with horns to eight inches .The legs are heavily built to with stand the
sudden stresses of vertical drops of perhaps 25 feet , with the hooves designed to give efficiency on rock and ice surfaces . These hooves are blunt and stubby , hollowed somewhat in the middle , with hard rims running around the outside . The Heel part is much softer and acts like a pad. They also have well developed dew claws which they use for additional grip whenever possible . Perhaps not as agile as the Chamois , the Tahr is a far more accomplished mountaineer , and can negotiate the most formidable looking cliffs and frozen slopes with apparently effortless ease
so long as there is a hold for the hooves . Originally from the Himalayan mountains,� these magnificent mountain goat
s were liberated in New Zealand's Southern Alps in 1904. Although both sexes have horns, those of the bull are longer and heavier than the nannies. Bull has Lion like mane that often exceeds over a foot in length. Despite their size and relatively short legs the Bull is an extremely agile animal that can bound down through the steepest of bluff systems with their hooves barely touching the rock faces. Normally solitary animals the Bulls move into the nanny groups in early May. This is the most exciting time to Hunt the King of the Mountains, as to see
a mature Bull in full rut, standing on a ridge with the wind blowing through his Mane is the ultimate alpine hunting experience.
November - December 2002: The Department of Conservation (Government paid Servants.)in New Zealand is currently targeting and shooting Tahr from helicopters, with semi automatic weapons. This is happening Now! The many hundreds of animals are left to rot where they are shot. They are destroying what is left of this valuable asset to New Zealand. Nannies, Bulls, Kids, no exceptions. Let us hope when a different Government is voted in by the New Zealand people, this appalling situation can be rectified. Some persons in D.O.C have infiltrated some policies into D.O.C Land and National Park agenda's , so that they can have New Zealand as they personally would like it. Persons in Goverment giving the OK for these rules to be implimented, believe D.O.C should know what they are doing, so it has been a mere formality for D.O.C to make it happen! ) At the moment D.O.C has been allocated millions of dollars of the New Zealand Tax payers money by it's present government, which they (D.O.C) are proceeding to spend at a very fast rate, while they have the latest Govt's approval. (Not the local opinion around here.) It is interesting that the opposition to this happening comes from the people that live in these areas. Does this tell you something.

Red Deer , Elk , Chamois, Tahr , Wild Boar ,and Sika .
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WILD BOAR

���� The toughest, meanest and most dangerous sporting beast in the country is, of course the wild boar.
Wild Boar originated in New Zealand through liberation's by early explorers.
De Surville gave the first two pigs to the Maoris in 1769. Captain Cook being one of the first to do so in 1773.
They did it so that shipwrecked sailors , sealers , explorers and settlers following would have some food available. The early Maori tribes captured and domesticated a number of these Pigs. Interbreeding between many breeds of Pigs resulted in the wild pigs of today. With a wide distribution, and as an animal which guarantees the sportsman action packed with thrills and danger , pig hunting is tops. Fierce ,cunning animals, physically slim, powerful active dangerous. The term 'Captain Cookers' refers to the pigs that are usually Black, have high shoulders, small hindquarters , upstanding quite long bristles along the backbone. Today dogs are used principally for hunting them ,several dogs are needed for a successful pig hunt. These dogs are classed as 'finders' and 'holders' .
Finders ,as the term suggests, are used to find the quarry and can be any kind of dog with a good sense of
smell, often sheepdogs. The holders now spearhead the chase, waiting for an opening in which to leap to take hold of the pig. For this task bulldog, boxer crosses or similar breed are favored. One cardinal rule is
NEVER GET DOWNHILL FROM YOUR QUARRY.
They can travel downhill with the speed of a chamois , but a fit man can beat them climbing if necessary. Boars, it is universally known ,can inflict terrible wounds with their razor sharp tusks , but do not have the delusion that Sows cannot be dangerous , tougher they can bite with great ferocity when cornered or enraged, they fear nothing.
Record Boars may weigh up to 400lb,measure 3 ft or more in height, up to 7ft 6 inches in length . They have tusks when drawn 8 inches to 20inches in length. The record tusk length can be 26 inches. The ideal set of tusks should form a complete circle. Most Hunters with a pack of dogs ,will not let other persons hunting with them take guns
,the exception being themselves. Sportsmen� with patience can get Wild Pigs by also stalking them. Pigs are most active in the morning and evening and often on days which are pleasantly warm. Rain brings the pigs out of the bush as it will deer, but not if the weather is cold and boisterous. In cold weather they remain in the shelter as much as possible, while on hot days they bask in the smashed of bracken, or remain in the cover of scrub , bush ,or in muddy wallows where they are difficult to find.

Red Deer , Elk , Chamois, Tahr ,Wild Boar ,and Sika .
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�SIKA


���� Originally from Manchuria and Japan. Sika of New Zealand were obtained from the Duke of Bedford , Woburn Park England and introduced in 1905 at Poronui Station in the Kaimanawa Ranges .The Sika probably contain both Manchurian (Cervus Nippon Mantchuricus ) and Japanese Bloodlines ( Cervus Nippon Nippon , Cervus Nippon hortulorum, and (Cervus Nippon Centralis ) . In the Central North Island ,they Range from Tongariro National Park Northern Ruahine Range ,Kaingaroa State Forest, Maungaharuru Range and are slowly spreading .
They are an extremely pretty deer with eight to ten point antlers , a good set would measure between 28� to 32��.
Standing about 35� at the shoulder , in the Summer the coat is an attractive rich red-brown which is covered with white or creamy spots.


Red Deer , Elk , Chamois, Tahr , Wild Boar ,and Sika .
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Phone: 64 3 3030775 Fax: 64 3 3030771

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